Hacker

"Such an honor sir," Simmons said excitedly shaking the hand of the man in front of her.

"Oh, yes," Fitz said, pushing in for a handshake as well. "You are just, so brilliant! Your thesis on radiation physics-"

"And on the biological ramifications, on the ways that it could improve medicine!" Simmons continued.

"Changed our lives!" Fitz finished, waving his hands in emphasis. "Your papers are still taught at the SHIELD Academy!" Fitz seemed to realize something. "Well, were taught I suppose."

The man looked between them, looking befuddled but pleased. "Well, thank you. Always good to be known more for my work rather than... you know." Bruce couldn't help but look saddened for a moment.

"Seriously?" Tony asked, annoyed. "Why weren't they like this for me?"

"Because you're a billionaire scientist, and Bruce is a regular scientist," Clint supplied. "You're not as classy."

"I'm classy," Tony said, feigning like he was hurt by that.

"If it helps, I still like you," Skye said, grinning.

Tony looked between them, annoyed. "Seriously, I don't get as much respect as I deserve."

I ignored them to take a good look at Bruce Banner. The Incredible Hulk. Seriously, the damn Hulk. So freaking cool.

Granted he wasn't the rage monster right now, but he also wasn't some stereotypical string-bean people assume most scientists were. He actually was very well built, likely a byproduct from being on the run from the US military for so long, with curly black hair and some beard scruff that was going a bit gray. He wore a simple sweater and blue jeans and seemed nervous, but happy to speak with Fitz-Simmons.

I looked around. "Damn... You really went all out making this place," I said to Tony.

He smirked, looking around. "Like it? I wanted it to have all the bells and whistles."

"I could get used to it," Skye said.

The room of the tower we were standing in was massive, the sort of place with so many zeroes on its price tag it would make me pass out at the mere thought of spending so much. It had a fancy bar on one side of the room, black tiles on the floor everywhere, plush leather couches, and a second floor visible from the first. The place looked like a nightclub.

I walked over to a nearby window and looked out on New York City. Tony and Skye followed me, Clint opting to go upstairs so he could have a view of everything.

"Great view, right?" Tony asked casually.

"Yeah," Skye stared out at the buildings and streets of the city. "I think I can see my favorite coffee shop right over there."

"That's my old warehouse, I think," I pointed out into the city. "I was squatting over there... I miss that warehouse."

Tony snorted. "Yeah, well, you moved up in the world, pun totally intended, so don't go shedding tears about it."

"Skye!" Simmons called out, getting her friends attention. "Come to look at this!"

She gave us an apologetic look before going to join her friends. As she did, Tony looked over at me. "What do you think?"

"It's nice... Thanks for the invite by the way."

"Wasn't as spontaneous as it seemed," Tony admitted. "Coulson wanted his team to have a good time. You deciding to steal a Quinjet just... made it easy."

I looked over at Tony, surprised. He shrugged. "I was always planning on taking you, Ross, and Rachel with me. And I know Fury was trying to find some way to show you some appreciation. Fury isn't exactly rainbows and sunshine, but he knows to be nice even when he's a paranoid asshole."

"And Coulson?" I asked. "Was he in on it?"

"He gave me permission to talk to them," Tony admitted. "But I'm the one who has to convince them working with Bruce, you, and I is a good idea."

"Tony," I said, suddenly suspicious. "What is it that you're planning?"

"...Even if SHIELD is rebuilding, even with the Avengers, we might not be enough," Tony said. "I want to make something to help us protect people. Something that can stop threats before they start. To prevent anything from space coming near us without getting vetted."

I thought about Ben 10, about the Plumbers, and the time a species of frog people had attacked. They'd had to work around something to do it if I remembered correctly. Hell, wasn't the plot of the third Men in Black movie based around something like that? And then there were the MAC guns from Halo, big cannons that could shoot a ship to pieces that were left in orbit. Plus, it was time I make something to prevent people like Davida from mind controlling me again.

"I have some ideas about that," I told Tony.

"Yeah well, hopefully, your little red guy can make them," Tony said. "By the way, I want to test you with something. First," Tony put a hand on my shoulder and guided me to the others. When we joined them, Bruce was listening as Simmons enthusiastically spoke about something. As we came closer, my Omnitrix beeped, surprising me, but when I looked down at it, the watch was normal. Wondering why it had done that, I focused on Bruce, who seemed amazed.

"A disease that can spread through electromagnetic shock?" Bruce asked her. When Simmons nodded, he grinned. "That is fascinating. I mean, dangerous, but if you could use that system to transfer cures-"

"We managed to suspend the cure in a mineral-based solution that could give it to her with an electrical shock," Fitz said. "But we couldn't figure out if other cures could be spread that way as well."

"Weren't you guys talking about it being a way to transfer cures over the internet?" Skye idly asked.

"That would be incredible," Bruce said in amazement. "Cures that could be stored as data! The number of people that could be saved with that, being able to send cures to people with the press of a button!"

"Yes, but we've had trouble with it," Simmons admitted. "Without more samples of similar diseases we haven't been able to see if other cures could be created, and our attempts to make such vaccines with samples of Earth diseases have come to a standstill."

"I'd like to see your research if you don't mind?" Bruce asked.

Fitz and Simmons looked like they had never heard of something more wonderful.

"Well that works out," Tony said, getting everyone's attention. "I want Jury Rigg to take a look at something."

"Jury Rigg?" Bruce asked.

"Oh, right, I guess you haven't heard," Tony said with a smile. "Turns out you aren't the only guy who can turn into giant monsters-"

"Tony?" Someone said.

We all turned to see a woman walking into the room. She was wearing a black dress that fit her tall and thin frame very well, had red hair in a high ponytail, and freckles across her nose. She walked over to us, smiling. Happy walked in behind her and gave me a light glare that I returned with a sigh.

"Jarvis told me you brought company," the woman said.

"Tattletale," Tony said to the air.

"She asked why a Quinjet was parked on the roof," Jarvis informed Tony.

"And I'm sure she broke you after hours of torture," Tony said. "Okay, well, these are Fangirl, Ross, Rachel, and-"

"The hacker," Happy said.

"Wait, you know me?" Skye asked, surprised.

"You hacked us too?" the woman, Pepper Potts at a guess, said, while Happy frowned.

"Uh..." Skye looked around. "No?"

"Seriously, how many holes are there in my security? I mean, I get Fanboy, but Fangirl too?" Tony asked, annoyed. "Anyways, this is Happy Hogan, my Forehead of Security, and Pepper Potts, the real CEO and my girlfriend."

"On days when he isn't running around the world without telling me," Pepper said, shaking my hand then moving on to the others.

Tony waited until she had been fully introduced before looking between Bruce and Pepper. "Guys. I need to talk to you about something. Happy, can you show them to the labs? My personal one."

Happy, Pepper, and Bruce seemed shocked. Happy looked at Skye and I. "Uh, Tony, are you sure-"

"Yes," Tony was uncharacteristically serious. "Now, I need to talk to Pepper and Bruce."

I gave the others an awkward look that was returned. Happy led us away as Pepper gave Tony a worried look.